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NSG3450 Exam 2 2026/2027 Nursing Practice Mental
Health Galen Actual Exam Verified Answers Detailed
Rationales High Score Grade A
1. A nurse is conducting a psychiatric assessment. Which source would be
considered a primary source of data?
A. The patient's spouse
B. The patient's medical record
C. The patient
D. The patient's healthcare provider
Correct Answer: C. The patient
Rationale: The patient is the primary source of data. Secondary sources include
family, friends, healthcare workers, police, and medical records.
2. A nurse is performing a psychiatric assessment. Which purposes are
associated with this assessment? Select all that apply.
A. Establish rapport
B. Understand chief complaint
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C. Perform Mental Status Exam (MSE)
D. Assess psychosocial status
E. Formulate plan of care
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: All listed options are purposes of a psychiatric assessment: establishing
rapport, understanding chief complaint, performing MSE, assessing psychosocial
status, and formulating a plan of care.
3. A nurse is collecting data for a Mental Status Exam (MSE). Which elements
should the nurse assess? Select all that apply.
A. Affect and mood
B. Thought processes
C. Memory
D. Cognitive ability
E. Blood pressure
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: MSE data includes affect and mood, thought processes, memory,
cognitive ability, physical behavior, speech patterns, psychosis, perceptions,
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appearance, nonverbal communication, insight, and judgment. Blood pressure (E)
is a physical assessment finding, not part of the MSE.
4. A nurse is explaining the concept of milieu therapy to a new graduate. Which
statement best defines milieu therapy?
A. A one-on-one therapeutic intervention between nurse and patient
B. A safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment structured by healthcare
consumers, families, and other healthcare clinicians
C. A pharmacological intervention for severe mental illness
D. A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy
Correct Answer: B. A safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment
structured by healthcare consumers, families, and other healthcare clinicians
Rationale: Milieu therapy is a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment
structured collaboratively by patients, families, and healthcare clinicians.
5. A nurse is working with a patient during the orientation phase of the nurse-
patient relationship. Which activities are appropriate during this phase? Select
all that apply.
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A. Identify the needs of the patient and explore them
B. Establish clear boundaries
C. Help the patient develop new coping skills
D. Support behavioral change
E. Establish a "contract" with the patient
Correct Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: During orientation, the nurse identifies patient needs (A), establishes
clear boundaries (B), and establishes a "contract" (E). Developing coping skills (C)
and supporting behavioral change (D) occur in the working phase.
6. A patient tells the nurse, "You remind me of my mother." The nurse
recognizes this as an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Identification
D. Projection
Correct Answer: B. Transference
Rationale: Transference refers to unconscious feelings the patient has toward the
healthcare worker that were originally felt for a significant other.
NSG3450 Exam 2 2026/2027 Nursing Practice Mental
Health Galen Actual Exam Verified Answers Detailed
Rationales High Score Grade A
1. A nurse is conducting a psychiatric assessment. Which source would be
considered a primary source of data?
A. The patient's spouse
B. The patient's medical record
C. The patient
D. The patient's healthcare provider
Correct Answer: C. The patient
Rationale: The patient is the primary source of data. Secondary sources include
family, friends, healthcare workers, police, and medical records.
2. A nurse is performing a psychiatric assessment. Which purposes are
associated with this assessment? Select all that apply.
A. Establish rapport
B. Understand chief complaint
,2|Page
C. Perform Mental Status Exam (MSE)
D. Assess psychosocial status
E. Formulate plan of care
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: All listed options are purposes of a psychiatric assessment: establishing
rapport, understanding chief complaint, performing MSE, assessing psychosocial
status, and formulating a plan of care.
3. A nurse is collecting data for a Mental Status Exam (MSE). Which elements
should the nurse assess? Select all that apply.
A. Affect and mood
B. Thought processes
C. Memory
D. Cognitive ability
E. Blood pressure
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: MSE data includes affect and mood, thought processes, memory,
cognitive ability, physical behavior, speech patterns, psychosis, perceptions,
,3|Page
appearance, nonverbal communication, insight, and judgment. Blood pressure (E)
is a physical assessment finding, not part of the MSE.
4. A nurse is explaining the concept of milieu therapy to a new graduate. Which
statement best defines milieu therapy?
A. A one-on-one therapeutic intervention between nurse and patient
B. A safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment structured by healthcare
consumers, families, and other healthcare clinicians
C. A pharmacological intervention for severe mental illness
D. A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy
Correct Answer: B. A safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment
structured by healthcare consumers, families, and other healthcare clinicians
Rationale: Milieu therapy is a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment
structured collaboratively by patients, families, and healthcare clinicians.
5. A nurse is working with a patient during the orientation phase of the nurse-
patient relationship. Which activities are appropriate during this phase? Select
all that apply.
, 4|Page
A. Identify the needs of the patient and explore them
B. Establish clear boundaries
C. Help the patient develop new coping skills
D. Support behavioral change
E. Establish a "contract" with the patient
Correct Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: During orientation, the nurse identifies patient needs (A), establishes
clear boundaries (B), and establishes a "contract" (E). Developing coping skills (C)
and supporting behavioral change (D) occur in the working phase.
6. A patient tells the nurse, "You remind me of my mother." The nurse
recognizes this as an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Identification
D. Projection
Correct Answer: B. Transference
Rationale: Transference refers to unconscious feelings the patient has toward the
healthcare worker that were originally felt for a significant other.
